The NBA community considers Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James to be one of the most avid players in the league. He may enter his veteran years, but his game remains at its peak. However, according to former Boston Celtics player Ryan Hollins, some players thought King James was not even capable.
Was LeBron James a “soft” player?
After Cleveland Cavaliers drafted LeBron James in 2003, the legend of King James was born. When his teammates Cavs questioned him, James showed them what he was. They thought it could only be another pillar of support. Yet he became the one to turn the fate of the team upside down.
However, this was also the moment when players from other teams started talking about James in a negative light, sparking controversy.
For example, the Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce spat on the Cavs bench during a preseason game. This started a prolonged feud between the two. According to Kendrick Perkins, who then played for the Celtics, Pierce did so because senior league players like him felt disrespectful. They could not stand the wide publicity that James received, even before he officially entered the NBA.
Recently, another former Celtics player, Ryan Hollins, recently revealed that Pierce and some others didn’t even feel like LeBron was in him. Hollins told Brandon Robinson about the “Scoop” B radio podcast, which they saw James as a ‘Soft’ player.
Referring to game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference finals, Hollins said:
“It was our league to go away with. Until then, LeBron was seen as soft …
“We thought he wouldn’t show up in the fourth quarter, we thought he wasn’t the real friend and when things got tight he wouldn’t be able to go out and do shows. And if Paul Pierce managed to avoid trouble, Paul was just as good at creating his shot in moments of friction. “
Paul Pierce’s Celtics saw Miami Heat’s LeBron James as soft as @TheRyanHollins says – https://t.co/HPuiRCRUl2
“We thought he wouldn’t show up in the 4th quarter, we thought he wasn’t the real friend and when things got tight, he wouldn’t be able to go out and do shows.” pic.twitter.com/aEmkg56uVj
– r Leave ‘Scoop B’ Robinson, MA (@ScoopB) on June 26, 2020
At the time, LeBron was with the Miami Heat. Even with the pressure to keep the team in the finals and the opposition’s negativity, James stole the show. He released 45 points, 15 rebounds and five assists, leading the franchise to victory. Maintaining his performance consistently, LeBron recorded another fantastic score in Game 7. With 31 points and 12 rebounds, he led the team to its second consecutive appearance in the NBA Finals.
King James now has respect from the whole league and Pierce retired three years ago. However, their rivalry seems to be the way it was. Pierce admitted the spitting incident, but didn’t really apologize. And LeBron only seems to continually test itself with its game.
“I’m glad social media didn’t come out then because I spit on the bench. I probably should have been fined.” @ paulpierce34 confirms the story of @KendrickPerkins that spitting on the bench Cavs started his meat with LeBron. pic.twitter.com/k1DbLKhcQq
– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 22 May 2020
